When I started RaceCoach, my goal was simple: make better use of the telemetry I was already collecting during autocross.

Like many drivers, I was recording every run with RaceChrono Pro, a RaceBox GPS, and OBD data. I had plenty of information, but only a few minutes between runs to decide what to change. Looking at graphs and numbers wasn’t helping me answer the most important question:

What should I do differently on my next run?

That question has gradually changed the entire direction of the project.

The Original Idea

Progress at the PCA Zone 7 Autocross Weekend

I asked ChatGPT to summarize the results of the weekend as it related to the programming work we’re doing in RaceCoach.

The July 11–12, 2026 PCA autocross weekend at Salinas provided a useful test of both my driving and the RaceCoach analysis workflow I have been developing.

While at an event, RaceCoach outputs both a grid and latest report of the comparisons run (1 v 2, 2 v 3) done via run_analysis from the command line.

To read the background on this project, read through the repo’s files here:

https://github.com/peterm95018/Racecoach/tree/momentum-recovery

The grid report is here:

RaceCoach

This is an early draft of the project description. It has morphed during development so some of the points below have been altered.

RaceCoach started off as a personal autocross telemetry and coaching project built to help me get faster between runs. What is has changed into is a coaching engine that does this:

Observe → Diagnose → Coach → Improve

The goal is simple: after each run, RaceCoach should answer one question:

Well, it is April 2026. Here’s a summary of the events that have transpired.

2026

• 3/9/26 Laguna Seca GGLC 4 20 min sessions
• 4/6/26 Sonoma GGLC 4 20 min sessions (PB 1:59.07)

2022 Days (7)

• 3/5-6/22 Thunderhill East 
• 4/12/22 Sonoma Raceway
• 5/25/22 Laguna Seca 
• 5/26/22 Laguna Seca
• 8/26/22 Sonoma
• 9/28/22 Lagua Seca (PB 1:47.20)

2021 Days (11)

After hemming and hawing and interating with ChatGPT on various models, I bought a Specialized Levo Comp Alloy gen 3. Cycle sport had a few left in their inventory and had dropped the price to about half of MSRP and built it with an upgraded drivetrain and brakes.

I took it out for its maiden voyage and am continuing to study all its settings and setup options.

Letter from May 20, 1945

May 20, 1945

Dear Buster:

At long last the letter I've promised for so long.